Apparatus for inserting insulators in armatures

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into armatures to be wound or for inserting coil stays or wedges in wound armatures includes forming rolls for partially forming a paper supplied from a continuous roll and means for intermittently advancing the paper through predetermined incremental lengths where blade is then cut. Cell insulating paper is then tamped into a forming die which forms the paper into a configuration corresponding generally to the shape of slidingly armature cell to be insulated. The knife is mounted on a second degree lever and the tamping blade is mounted on a third degree lever and both of these levers are actuated by a main operating arm so that after the paper is cut by the knife, the paper is immediately tamped into the forming means and continued movement of the knife will not bend or distort the end of the paper. A jam safety switch senses excessive resistance of the paper as it is moved from the forming die into the armature cell to cause a brake to be applied to immediately stop the operation of the device to prevent damage. A simplified loading mechanism includes an inclined pair of tracks and a loading chuck which picks up the armatures from the track and carries them to a position where they are loaded with insulating paper or coil stays and then returns the armatures to the same track. A stop located on the track slightly upstream of the axis of the loading chuck holds the armatures in position ready for loading and strips the armatures from the loading chuck after they have been loaded.

United States Patent [191 Sept. 18, 1973 APPARATUS FOR INSERTING INSULATORS IN ARMATURES [76] Inventor: Kenneth A. Ott, 5236 Subra Ave.,

Dayton, Ohio 45424 [22] Filed: July 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 276,250

Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Att0rney-Lawrence B. Biebel et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into armatures to be wound or for inserting coil stays or wedges in wound armatures includes forming rolls for partially forming a paper supplied from a continuous roll and means for intermittently advancing the paper through predetermined incremental lengths where blade is then cut. Cell insulating paper is then tamped into a forming die which forms the paper into a configuration corresponding generally to the shape of slidingly armature cell to be insulated. The knife is mounted on a second degree lever and the tamping blade is mounted on a third degree lever and both of these levers are actuated by a main operating arm so that after the paper is cut by the knife, the paper is immediately tamped into the forming means and continued movement of the knife will not bend or distort the end of the paper. A jam safety switch senses excessive resistance of the paper as it is moved from the forming die into the armature cell to cause a brake to be applied to immediately stop the operation of the device to prevent damage. A simplified loading mechanism includes an inclined pair of tracks and a loading chuck which picks up the armatures from the track and carries them to a position where they are loaded with insulating paper or coil stays and then returns the armatures to the same track. A stop located on the track slightly upstream of the axis of the loading chuck holds the armatures in position ready for loading and strips the armatures from the loading chuck after they have been loaded.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing; Figures PATEN TED SEP 1 8 i975 SHEET 2 BF 4 OZ EL mt mm- PATENTEI] SEPI 8 I973 'SHEEI '4 [IF I00 FIG-1O FIG 14 254; LR] LOADER UP 3R1 LOADER DO APPARATUS FOR INSERTING INSULATORS IN ARMATURES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting either cell insulating paper into an armature to be wound or for inserting a coil stay or wedge in a wound armature.

More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic machine wherein a supply of insulating paper is cut into predetermined lengths and formed generally to the shape of the cell cavity in an armature which is to be insulated prior to winding, and means for inserting the cell paper into the cavities automatically. In the prior art machines for accomplishing this, the insulating paper is cut into predetermined lengths, creased, and tamped into a forming die to form the paper generally to the configuration of the armature cell. The paper is then moved from the forming die into the armature.

Examples of prior art devices are illustrated in the following US. Pat. Nos.

The prior art devices generally operate at fairly low speeds due to the numerous mechanical motions required up to and including the insertion of the insulating paper into the armature. Also. the construction techniques used in assembling these machines is expensive.

Another deficiency is in that area of the machine where the paper is cut by a knife and thereafter tamped into a forming die. In the prior art devices, the end of the paper may be bent or distorted if the knife continues to move down after cutting the paper and before the paper moves away from the knife. These deficiencies are corrected in the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus which may be used either for inserting cell insulating paper into armatures or for inserting coilstays or wedges into wound armatures. More particularly, the invention provides for a single operating arm to perform three operations, the cutting of the cell insulating paper, the tamp ing of the paper into the forming die, and the indexing of the armature to position the cell to receive the insulating paper. These three operations are accomplished in approximately 180 of movement of the main drive shaft while the paper feed operation and the insertion of the formed cell insulating paper into the armature is accomplished during the other I80 of rotation of the main drive shaft. Thus. the sequence of operations and the speed of the entire apparatus may be substantially increased due to simplified assembly.

The present invention also employs simplified construction techniques and uses cast aluminum plate for the main frame assembly and lightweight moving parts, preferably aluminum, except at wear positions, to minimize inertial effects.

Another feature of the invention is a mechanism to sense when the cell insulating paper begins to jam and means to prevent damage to the apparatus by immediately locking the power train when a jam condition occurs.

The main operating arm actuates a second degree lcver, which carries a knife to sever the paper from a continuous strip. and a third degree lever, which operates a tamping mechanism to insert the severed paper into a forming die. Since the knife is mounted on a second degree lever, it travels through a shorter distance and at a slower rate than the tamping means and therefore the paper is moved away from the knife after it is cut by the tamping means so the paper will not be distorted or bent by the continued downward movement of the knife.

A counter mechanism is included to count the number of cells inserted in an armature and to cause an armature. after all of the cells have: been insulated, to be moved to an unloading position.

Another feature of the invention is in a unique and simplified loading mechanism whereby armatures are carried by an inclined pair of tracks against a stop where they are then carried upwardly by means of a loading chuck to be filled with insulating paper. The loading chuck includes a permanent magnet to hold the armatures in place as they are carried to the loading position and then returned to the track. The stop is a wedge shaped member having a straight front side for engaging the armature shafts and so positioned that the axis of the armatures stop slightly upstream of the axis of the loading chuck, and a sloping back side for engaging the armature shafts as they are carried downwardly from the loading position to strip the armatures off of the loading chuck where the armatures will continue their movement down the tracks.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the invention showing the main drive system, a cell paper advancing mechanism and a mechanism for forming the cell paper and inserting it into the armature;

FIG. 2 is chick, end view of the invention showing an armature holding ch indexing feature, and armature loading mechanism;

FIG. 3 is an elevationl viewshowing a cam actuated main operating arm used to operate a knife, a paper tamping blade, and an armature indexing mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showinga carriage carrying a push blade for moving the cell paper into an armature and a jam safety switch, and also showing electrical contact strips and brushes for use in connecting the switch to a control circuit;

FIG. 5 is a view, partly in cross section, showing in detail the support bracket for the paper push blade, and the operating arm of the jam safety switch carried by the carriage;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1. showing a second degree lever supporting a knife mechanism which is moved from a first position, shown in solid lines, to a second position, shown in dotted lines, by the main operating arm;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 77 in FIG. 1 showing a third degree lever controlling the operation of a paper tamping blade which is moved from a first position, shown in solid lines, to a second position, shown in dashed lines, by the same main operating arm;

FIG. 8 is an end view showing an armature holding fixture and indexing mechanism;

FIG. 9 is an end view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 4 showing the pusher blade guide,

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partly in cross section, showing another embodiment of the invention for use with installing wedges or coil stays in wound armatures;

FIG. 11 is a view, partly in cross section, taken along line llll in FIG. 10, showing the wedge paper partially broken away to reveal a stationary cutting surface and its relationship to the movable knife blade;

FIG. 12 is an end view of a portion of the armature showing the wedge or coil stay in position in a wound armature;

FIG. 13 is an end view showing the wedge guide cavity with the pusher blade in position;

FIG. 14 is an electrical schematic diagram showing the interconnection between the drive motor, brakeclutch assembly, jam safety switch and a counter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to the drawings which show preferred embodiments of the invention, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a frame 10 formed from cast aluminum plate material and comprising a base plate 1 1, front and rear walls 12 and 13, an interior wall 14 and a partial, parallel interior wall 15. The base plate 11 has formed therein grooves into which the front and rear walls 12 and 13 are placed, and other grooves, not shown, into which the plates 14 and 15 secured. Similarly, the front and rear walls 12 and 13 have grooves formed therein into which the plates 14 and 15 are secured. This particular frame structure supports the entire operating mechanism of the invention and permits the apparatus to be fonned inexpensively while maintaining accurate alignment between the supporting walls.

A drive motor 20, powered from a commercial source of alternating current, is mounted on a plate 21 along with a brake-clutch mechanism 25. The plate 21, along with the motor and the brake-clutch mechanism 25 may be removed from the apparatus as a unit for servicing, when required. A cog belt 26 interconnects these two devices. The motor 20 is movable relative to the brake-clutch mechanism in order to adjust the tension on the belt 26. The plate 21 is mounted on the base plate 11 and is movable relative thereto to adjust the tension on a cog belt 28 weich interconnects the output of the brake-clutch mechanism 25 and a pulley 30 keyed to any rotating with a pinion shaft 32. The pinion shaft 32 is carried in bearings mounted in both plates 14 and 15 and carries thereon a pinion gear 35.

The pinion gear 35 meshes with a bull gear carried by a main shaft 42, also supported in bearings mounted in plates 14 and 15. As viewed in FIG. 1, both the pinion gear 35 and the bull gear 40 are located on the far side of plate 14.

To the left of the device, as shown in FIG. 1, is a paper supply roll, not shown, mounted on a support bracket 46 for supplying paper 50, shown by the dotted line, around an idler roll 51 and a forming roll 52. A gear 53, shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, is mounted to rotate, by means of a pin, with the roll 52, and this gear meshes with a corresponding gear 54 secured to and rotating with a forming roll 55. The roll 55 and gear 54 rotate with a shaft 56 joumalled in the plates 14 and 15. The roll 52 and gear 53 are mounted on a shaft 57 supported in bearings in a pair of parallel arms 58 pivoted about a shaft 59. The arms 58 are urged downwardly by a pair of adjustable springs 60.

A switch 65 senses the presence of paper 50 around the idler 51. This idler has a groove formed therein which allows the operating arm of the switch to extend thereinto and cause the switch to open whenever the paper is exhausted.

The shaft 56 also carries a crank arm 66 pivotally connected to a link 67, the link being attached by means ofa bearing and T-bolt 68 to a slot 69 which rotates with drive wheel 70 as it rotates with the main shaft 42. A one-way clutch interconnects the crank 66 and the shaft 56, allowing the forming roll 55 to rotate in a clockwise direction only. The displacement of the bearing and T-bolt 68 from the center of rotation of the shaft 42 determines the amount of rotation of the forming wheels 55 and 52. Thus, as the crank 66 moves back and forth, the paper is advanced through a distance which is determined by the placement of the T- bolt 68.

Due to the speed of operation of this machine, a brake 76 is provided on roll 55 to prevent inertia from rotating the forming roll more than the desired amount.

After the paper 50 has moved between the forming rolls 52 and 55, it is supported by guide plates 77 and 78 (FIG. 3) until it enters an opening 80 in the front wall 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, the main drive shaft 42 rotates the cam which engages a roller 92 mounted on a bracket 93 carried by a main operating arm 95. The arm 95 is pivoted about a shaft 96 and causes three operations to be performed with each downward stroke of its right end, as viewed in FIG. 3. The first operation causes the paper 50, extending through the opening 80, to be cut into the predetermined lengths as established by the movement of the forming rolls 52 and 55. The second operation causes the severed paper to be tamped into a forming die. The third operating is to index the annature to align a cell opening in preparation to receive the cell insulating paper. By performing these three operations during the donwward motion of the main operating arm, a substantial increase in the operating speed of the machine can be obtained.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the downward motion of the operating arm comprises approximately 90 of rotation of the shaft 42. If desired, the slope of the cam 90 may be modified to cause the operating arm to move downwardly at a slower rate, for example over as much as a 150 of rotation, and then to cause the operating arm to return to its rest position within 30 by means of a spring or other suitable arrangement. Due to the operation of the paper drive mechanism described above, the entire cycle of operation of the main operating arm should occupy no more than 180 rotation of the shaft 42.

The mechanisms for performing the three operations mentioned above will not be described in more detail, starting with the paper cutting mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, a plate 100 is mounted on the forward face of the front wall 12 and includes an opening 101 formed therein through which the paper 50 passes. The opening 100 is smaller than and aligned with the opening 80 in wall 12. The plate 10% provides a stationary surface against which a movable knife 105 slides.

The knife 105 is mounted on a second degree lever which is pivoted at 111 to the front wall 12 and attached to the main operating arm by means of an adjustable link 112. This link allows the position of the knife, with respect to the opening 101, to be adjusted so that at a rest position of the knife is just clear of the upper surface of the paper 50. The lever and knife 105 are urged against the plate 100 by means of a roller 1113 supported on a bracket by an eccentric mount 116.

Since the knife 105 is mounted between the main operating arm 95 and the pivot point 111, the knife travel will be less than the travel of the main operating arm 95 at the point of connection with the lever 110. The moved position of the lever and knife is shown by dashed lines.

The mechanism for tamping the cut paper into a cell cavity will now be described. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 7, a third degree lever is also mounted for rotation on the front wall 12 about a pivot 121. The lever 1.20 carries with it a tamping blade which, as shown in FIG. 3, is L-shaped and is provided at its upper portion with an opening 126 which receives an extension 127 of the lever 1 20. This permits the blade 125 to move relative to the lever.

The lever 120 is moved from its rest position, shown by the solid lines inFIG. 7, downwardly to the position shown by dashed lines as the main operating arm 95 moves downwardly through the operation of a bolt 130 and spring 131. This arrangement allows the blade 125 to engage the bottom of a forming die and stop while allowing the main operating arm 95 to continue to move downwardly against the bias of the spring 131 withoutcausing any damage to either the blade, lever or arm.

Since the blade 125 is mounted on a third degree lever, the blade will move through a distance greater than the distance traveled by the arm 95 at its point of connection with the lever 120. Also, the operating arm 95, at the point of engagement with the lever 120, moves through a distance greater than at its point of engagement with the lever 110. Therefore, the knife 105 will move through a substantially smaller distance than the tamping blade 125. The blade is guided in its downward movement by means of a guide 135 to position the paper accuratelyin the forming die.

The forming die is of conventional design and will not be described in detail. The die functions to form the paper, already creased by the forming rolls 52 and 55, into the proper shape before it is inserted into the cells of the armature. The die also includes a slot 141 through which a push blade travels to move the paper from the forming die into the armature.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which shows the armature indexing mechanism. A spring loaded plunger 145 is carried on the end of the main operating arm 95 and engages anoutwardly extending arm ofa slide 146. This slide is biased upwardly by means of a spring 147. The slide 146 carries a dog 148 which, when the slide is moved downwardly will rotate outwardly and engage the slots formed in the outside diameter of an armature. As the slide continues its downward motion, the dog causes the armature to rotate by an amount necessary to position the next armature cell to receive the cell paper from an opening 149 in the cell cavity nose piece 150. When the arm 95 returns to its uppermost position, the 'dog 148 will retract to a position clear of the armature. The nosepiece also includes a ridge 151 'which extends outwardly from the nose piece to providea stop when the armature is locked into position.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which shows a mechanism for moving the cell paper from the holding cavity into the armature. The bull gear 40 carries with it a crank arm for moving a carriage 165. As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage is in its forwardmost position and is supported for reciprocating movement between guides 166 and 167 mounted on plate 14. The carriage 165 has mounted thereon a hollow bracket 170 which carries a piston 171 held in place by means of a bolt 172 and a nut 173. A spring 174 acts between the end of the bracket and the piston 171 to urge the piston to the right, as shown in FIG. 5. The piston 171 carries with it a push blade 175, the end of which engages the cell paper within the forming die to move the paper through the nose piece 150 into an armature cell.

In FIG. 4, the dotted line shows the position of the carriage 165 when in the fully retracted position, in

which case the end of the push blade 175 will be flush or slightly behind the outside face of the front wall 12.

Within the front well 12, and below the opening 80, an opening 177 is formed. This opening accepts therein a pusher blade guide assembly 180. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the guide 180 includes a horizontal slot 181 and a vertical slot 182. These slots insures proper alignment of the pusher blade, as it exits the front wall 12, relative to an armature cell. As will be explained, the horizontal slot 181 is used when inserting cell insulating paper while slot 182 is used when the apparatus is used to insert wedges or coil stays in a wound armature.

In the event that the pusher blade 175 encounters excessive resistance as it is being moved to the right, as shown in FIG. 4, the plunger 171 will move to the left against the bias of spring 174, thus: moving the actuator arm 183 of a jam safety switch 184 to cause operation thereof. Due to the high speed and reciprocating movement of the carriage, the electrical contact between the moving switch 184 and the control circuitry is provided by means of brushes 185 which contact a pair of copper or brass staionary strips 186. The purpose of the switch 184 is to operate a circuit which will cause the brakeclutch mechanism 125 to disconnect power and to engage a brake to stop the machine immediately to prevent internal damage to the machine.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which shows a mechanism for loading armatures into position to receive either cell insulation paper or coil stays. A plurality of armatures 200, each having a shaft 201, may be carried on a pair of inclined tracks 202. The spacing between the tracks 202, one of which is shown in FIG. 2, is adjustable to accommodate armatures of different lengths. Both tracks 202 include top members 205 to limit the downward travel of the armatures and torplace one armature in position for loading.

A holding chuck 210 includes recess 211 adapted to receive an armature and to position it-with respect to the nose piece 150. The armatures 200 are lifted away from the track 202 one at a time by an armature loading chuck 215 mounted on an arm 216 pivoted about shaft 217. The chuck 210 includes an internal magnet 218 to assist in holding the armature in place in the chuck as it is lifted into place, and to insure that the armature is brought out of the loading position and back onto the track when the loading operation has been completed. The stop 205 is provided with a sloping back edge with the uppermost portion of the stop positioned to the left of the center of the armatures so that as the armature is brought from its loading position back to the track, it will be stripped from the loading chuck 215 and allowed to continue its movement downwardly and to the right on the tracks 202.

The loading chuck 215 includes a surface 219 for engaging the remaining armatures to be loaded. This surface has a radius about shaft 217. If the tracks 202 were tilted in the other direction, then the other surface 221 of the loading chuck would also be curved with a radius about shaft 217. In either case, after an armature is picked up by the loading chuck 215, the next armature in line will rest against either surface 219 or 221 as the loading chuck continues its upward movement and its subsequent downward movement preparatory for receiving the next armature for loading.

The arm 216 is mechanically coupled to an arm 220 which is moved by pneumatic cylinder 225 under the control of a loading circuit. When the armature is in loading position, an air switch 230 is actuated by means of an adjustable bolt 231, and this air switch causes another pneumatic cylinder 232 to move an arm 235, pivoted about 236, into place, and the end 237 of the arm will engage the end of the armature shaft to hold the armature against the ridge 151 of the nose piece 150 and to prevent it from moving during the loading sequence. Switch 238 is actuated by arm 239 when an armature is in loading position.

The sequence of operation for inserting cell insulating paper in an armature will now be described. Insulating paper 50 from a supply roll is fed through forming rolls 52 and 55 and is advanced through an incremental distance by means of driving wheel 70, link 67, crank 66 and one way clutch 75. As the paper is advanced, it extends through a slot 101 in plate 100 (FIG. 6). The paper is creased as it passes between the forming rolls '52 and 55.

The paper extending through slot 101 is cut when the main operating arm 95 moves downwardly with the cut being completed just prior to the tamping blade 125 moving the cut paper downwardly into a cell forming cavity 140. This cell cavity causes the paper to be further formed by breaking the paper where it is creased. It should be noted that the knife will continue to move downwardly as the paper is tamped into the cell cavity, however, the end of the paper will not be bent by motion of the movable knife blade since the knife blade is moving at a slower rate than the tamping blade. The paper will actually be moved away from the knife 105 by the blade 125 as it is moved into the cell cavity. Therefore, the paper is first cut and thereafter immediately stripped down into the cell cavity. At the same time, the armature 200 will be indexed by means of the dog 148 and an amature cell positioned in line with the opening 149 in the nose piece 150.

As the main drive shaft 42 continues to rotate, the main operating arm will return toward its uppermost position and the carriage 165 (FIG. 4) will begin moving forward causing the push blade 175 to move forward from its rearward rest position, that is, with its right end substantially flush with the outside of the front wall 12, through slot 181 and into the slot 141 in the cell cavity and slot 149 in the nose piece to push the cell paper into position in the armature.

Simultaneously with the forward movement of the push blade 175, the forming rolls 52 and 55 are rotating and moving the next incremental length of paper into position for cutting by the movable blade 105.

After this operation has been repeated a numberof times, depending upon the number of cells in the armature, a counter will cause the brake-clutch mechanism to disconnect the drive from the device, the arm 216 will lower the holding chuck 215 and bring the armature out of position and return it to the tracks 202.

An electrical schematic diagram of the control circuit shown in FIG. 14. The control circuit is connected to a conventional source of power by means of leads 250, and the power to the circuit is controlled by means of a main switch 251. When this switch is closed, AC power is then supplied to a motor 20 and through switches 253 and 254 and normally closed contacts LRl to a loader-up solenoid 255. The loader-up solenoid 255 controls an air valve which directs air into the pneumatic cylinder 225 to cause an armature to be loaded into position when switch 253, which senses the presence of an armature in loading position on the tracks 202, and switch 254, which indicates that the tracks 202 downstream of the loading position are not full and are free to accept a completed armature, are both closed. Contacts LR1 of latch relay LR are normally closed. Power is also supplied to the normally open contacts LR2, and in normal operation these contacts will remain open. In the same circuits with contacts LR2 is a lamp 257 which indicates a jam condition in the machine.

Power is also supplied to the normally open contacts ofjam safety switch 184. This switch is in a circuit including normally closed contacts LR3 and latch relay LR. This relay is a stepping relay which includes a mechanical catch which will cause the relay to close its contacts and remain in the closed position whenever power is supplied to it, even momentarily. In this embodiment of the invention, the relay must be manually released in order to reset it. This relay latches whenever a jam condition is sensed by the switch 184 which, as explained above, is connected to either the push blade of push blade 290. Whenever this relay is energized, power is removed from the loading solenoid, the indicator lamp 257 will be illuminated, and power from the motor is disconnected from the main drive shaft and a brake is applied thereto.

Power is also applied through the normally open contacts of the paper sensing switch 65 which, when paper is properly threaded around the idler roll 51, will be closed, and through switch 238 to line 258 which, in FIG. 14, extends vertically downwardly. Line 258 is connected to the counter relay C which enables that device to count the number of cycles of operation of the device. Power is also applied through normally closed contacts C1 of the counter to the normally closed contacts of the manual" switch 260 and the normally open contacts of the automatic" switch 261. These switches are shown in the rest" position, that is, they are in their normally released positions. These two switches are mechanically interconnected so that the operator depresses either one, but not both switches, causing the switch contacts to reverse the positions shown in FIG. 14.

Thus, when the automatic switch 216 is depressed, the upper contacts will close, the second level contacts will open, and the third level contacts will close. For purposes of this description, the automatic" switch 261 will be depressed, and current will flow through the upper contacts of switch 261 and the normally closed contacts LR4 to relay R1. Relay R1 has two contacts,

normally open contacts 1R1 which supply power to the .clutch solenoid 265 of the brake-clutch mechanism 25,

and normally closed contacts 2Rlwhich supply power to the brake solenoid 266 of that same mechanism. These solenoids are DC actuated devices and receive power from a DC power supply 270 which is a model MCS 801 DC power supply manufactured by Warner Electric Brake & Clutch Company, who also manufacture the clutch-brake mechanism 25 under the tradename Electropac.

Line 58 is also connected through switch 272 which, as shown in FIG. 1, is actuated by a strip 273 which rotates with the drive wheel 70. Thus, this switch closes once for each cycle of operation and causes the counter solenoid CC to energize.

Line 258 is also connected through the normally .open contacts C2 of the counter and through the now closed contacts of the third level of automatic switch 261 and normally closed contacts 3R1 to the loaderdown solenoid 275. When the counter C reachs the predetermined number set into it by the operator which is determined by the number of cell insulators to be installed in an armature, contact C2 will close to energize the loader-down solenoid and cause a pneumatic valve to shift and retract the loading arm. Normally closed contact C1 will open and remove power from relay R1 which will disengage the clutch 265 and energize the brake solenoid 266.

Manual operation is also possible through lower level contacts of manual switch 260 and jog switch 277 by energizing relay R1 when switch 277 is closed.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. -13 where wedges or coil stays are inserted onto awound armature. Wedge paper 260 is guided by means of an upper plate 261 and a lower plate 262 from the forming rolls 52 and 55 in incremental lengths, depending upon the size of the wound armature 265. As in the embodiment of the invention described in FIGS. 1-9, the armature includes a shaft 266, which is engaged by end 237 of arm 235 to hold the armature in place when in the loading position.

The wedge paper 260 is guided downwardly by the rounded end of screw 267 through an opening 268 in the bottom plate 262 and through opening 177 in the front wall 12. The paper extends into a slot 270 in a paper guide, which includes an upper plate 271 and lower plate 272 (FIGS. 10 and 13). A spring 275 urges the back edge of the paper downwardly against the bottom plate 272 after it has been cut.

Also extending through the opening 177 is a support 280 for the stationary cutting surface or nose piece 281, the purpose of which is to form a rounded front portion 282, and a corresponding rounded rear portion 283.0n each wedge prior to its being inserted into the armature. The nose piece 281 extends into a corresponding recess 284 in movable knife blade 285.

In this embodiment of the invention, the paper need not be tamped into position since it is fed automatically into the guide slot 270 where it is in position to be moved by means of push blade 290 into the armature once the knife 285 has retracted to a position clear of the blade.

In FIG. 12, the wedge 260 is shown in position in an armature 265. The armature includes a cavity in which .isinstalled the cell insulating paper 50, the windings of the armature 291, and the wedge material 260.

The push blade 290 is oriented vertically and in cludes a generally vertical section 291 which engages the back edge of the cell paper, and a sloping section 292 which is cut away to prevent the blade 290 from engaging the windings 291 of thc armature. In FIG. 13, the blade 290 is shown to have a long dimension in a vertical plane within a slot 293 formed in .both plates 271 and 272.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitute a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scopeof the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into an armature to be wound including means for supplying insulating paper,

means for partially forming the paper,

means for intermittently advancing said paper through predetermined increments of travel,

knife means for cutting said paper into said predetermined incremental lengths,

means for forming said paper to a configuration which corresponds to the opening in said armature,

tamping means for tamping said cut paper into said forming means, and

means for moving the paper from said forming means into said armature,

the improvement comprising a second degree lever for mounting said knife means,

a third degree lever for mounting said tamping means, and pl an operating arm for actuating said second degree and said third degree levers to cause the paper to be cut and tamped into said forming means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating arm is a first degree lever and wherein said second degree lever mounting said knife is located closer to the fulcrum of said first degree lever than said third degree lever mounting said tamping means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means responsive to said operating arm for indexing the armature to position a subsequent cell to receive insulating paper.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including switch means cooperating with said means for moving paper from the forming means to the armature and responsive to excessive resistance to said movement, brake means on said drive mechanism, and circuit means responsive to said switch means to actuate said brake means immediately upon encountering excessive resistance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for moving the paper from said forming means includes a carriage,

guide means for guiding said carriage in a straight line motion,

a blade mounted to move with. said carriage having one end engaging said paper in said forming means to move the paper towards said armature,

a spring supporting said blade on said carriage,

switch means responsive to movement of said blade relative to said carriage, and

electrical brushes carried by said carriage and cooperating with fixed contact strips to carry the electrical current to said switch means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for loading armatures into position to receive the insulating paper,

said means including an inclined track on which a plurality of armatures may be placed,

a stop member for engaging said armatures and to limit their downward movement on said track, said stop member being fixed relative to said tracks, and

a loading arm which engages the lowermost armature to move it from said track to a location where the armature is in position to receive insulating paper,

sais stop member so positioned relative to said loading means that as the armature is returned to said track, said stop member strips the armature from said loading means and places it on said track downstream of said stop means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a magnet in said loading arm to hold an armature in position on said loading arm.

8. Apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into an armature to be wound including means for supplying insulating paper,

means for partially forming the paper,

means for intermittently advancing said paper into said armature. 

1. In an apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into an armature to be wound including means for supplying insulating paper, means for partially forming the paper, means for intermittently advancing said paper through predetermined increments of travel, knife means for cutting said paper into said predetermined incremental lengths, means for forming said paper to a configuration which corresponds to the opening in said armature, tamping means for tamping said cut paper into said forming means, and means for moving the paper from said forming means into said armature, the improvement comprising a second degree lever for mounting said knife means, a third degree lever for mounting said tamping means, and p1 an operating arm for actuating said second degree and said third degree levers to cause the paper to be cut and tamped into said forming means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said operating arm is a first degree lever and wherein said second degree lever mounting said knife is located closer to the fulcrum of said first degree lever than said third degree lever mounting said tamping means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means responsive to said operating arm for indexing the armature to position a subsequent cell to receive insulating paper.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including switch means cooperating with said means for moving paper from the forming means to the armature and responsive to excessive resistance to said movement, brake means on said drive mechanism, and circuit means responsive to said switch means to actuate said brake means immediately upon encountering excessive resistance.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for moving the paper from said forming means includes a carriage, guide means for guiding said carriage in a straight line motion, a blade mounted to move with said carriage having one end engaging said paper in said forming means to move the paper towards said armature, a spring supporting said blade on said carriage, switch means responsive to movement of said blade relative to said carriage, and electrical brushes carried by said carriage and cooperating with fixed contact strips to carry the electrical current to said switch means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for loading armatures into position to Receive the insulating paper, said means including an inclined track on which a plurality of armatures may be placed, a stop member for engaging said armatures and to limit their downward movement on said track, said stop member being fixed relative to said tracks, and a loading arm which engages the lowermost armature to move it from said track to a location where the armature is in position to receive insulating paper, sais stop member so positioned relative to said loading means that as the armature is returned to said track, said stop member strips the armature from said loading means and places it on said track downstream of said stop means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 further including a magnet in said loading arm to hold an armature in position on said loading arm.
 8. Apparatus for inserting cell insulating paper into an armature to be wound including means for supplying insulating paper, means for partially forming the paper, means for intermittently advancing said paper through predetermined increments of travel, a knife for cutting said paper into said predetermined incremental lengths, means for forming said paper to a configuration which corresponds to the opening in said armature, tamping means for tamping said cut paper into said forming means, and operating arm for moving said knife through a shorter distance and at a slower rate than said tamping means in the same movement whereby the paper is cut and then immediately thereafter tamped into said forming means, and means for moving the paper from said forming means into said armature. 